Moses johnson



(No Model.)

- JOHNSON.

Hand-Truck.

No. 227,790. Patented Maj 18,1880.

ENTOR TNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES JOHNSON, OF LOGKPORT, NEW YORK.

HAND-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming 'partof Letters Patent No. 227,790, dated May 18 1880.

Application filed March 18,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSES JOHNSON, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in hand-trucks; and it consists in the curved frame A, having handles A A and bar a, notched or flattened for release of the barrelclasp a, the swinging platform B, and the standards I; I), combined and arranged substantially as hereinafter more fully shown and described.

In the figure is a view in perspective of my improved truck.

A represents the frame of my hand-truck, having the transverse bars 0 c, with the standards b I), having shoulders on their inner surfaces for reception of the longitudinal pieces thereof. These longitudinal pieces are curved, as shown, and have bolted thereto the wooden handles A A.

The upright standards I) b are fitted upon the axle b, and the hubs project beyond the periphery of the wheels and abut against these standards.

The transverse bar 0 secures the standards and longitudinal bars of the frame rigidly together.

B marks a swinging platform, hinged by curved ends, as shown, as a means of disengaging it from the bar. It is elastic, and admits the curved ends being pressed together, which, when at rest, are spread apart to about the full width of the bar a. This bar a is notched, recessed, or flattened at e e, and when the character of the load renders it desirable to remove the barrel-holder at its ends are compressed to the notched or flattened points, by which means it is readily disengaged.

The operation of loading the truck is as fol lows: The truck being first placed against a barrel and the hoop thrown over it, the operator places his foot against the axle and presses against the barrel near the top thereof by pushing forward thehandles, which tips the barrel, and the moment the barrel tips in the least the swinging platform swings under it. A slight pressure on the handles lifts the barrel, and the platform swings back to the truck and over the axle, so that it nearly or quite balances, and the barrel and swinging frame occupy a vertical position. Therefore there is no weight to be lifted or carried by the operator, as in other similar devices.

By means of my truck unheaded barrels of fluid may be transported without the spilling thereof.

It will be observed that ordinary small hand truck-wheels are employed in the construction of my device, and that this could not be accomplished if the swinging platform had its bearings in the hub of the truckwheel; and it is obvious that the small truckwheels are stronger and require less space in packing the truck for shipment than large my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

M. O. RICHARDSON, J. J. ARNOLD. 

